One of the first signs that spring is upon us, is the arrival of birds from other climbs. In this case, the staff at the Emporium was opening a new shipment of hats from Greenland when out flew a rare miniature white hummingbird.
We were, of course, delighted and resolved that we would
endeavor to construct a habitat for the tiny, miraculous creature so as to make
it feel more at home. A nest was
painstakingly crafted from moss and lichens and lined with spider webs and the
down from our wild cotton fluff for warmth.
(We have acquired from this endeavor a newfound respect for all birds
large and small in the art of nest building, as we have found it to be an
amazing feat to get the fool things to stay together and spent many hours
observing other birds to see how they do it.)
It seems our nest was satisfactory to the miniature hummingbird,
however, as she proceeded not only to call it home, but to lay two very tiny
white eggs in its interior. (Thank goodness we thought of the cotton down.)
Due to the Emporium’s abundance of cats and somewhat mischievous
pixies, we have placed the nest carefully inside a miniature terrarium, lined
with moss, for safety. She seems quite
happy there. We would like to find the
miniature hummingbird a suitable home, and will part with her if you promise to
love and care for her well. She is
particularly fond of coral honeysuckle dew.
The miniature hummingbird terrarium measures approximately 6 inches in height. The hummingbird
herself measures a scant 2 inches. Her habitat
would make a wonderful addition to any windowsill, and would be a great gift
for any lover of wildlife.